Youngstown, V&M Star reach agreement on land purchase

Photo by: Special to The Vindicator

Photo

EXPANSION INCENTIVE: Posing in Columbus on Monday after a talk are, from left, Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams; Roger Lindgren, president of manufacturer V&M Star Steel; and GIrard Mayor James Melfi. Youngstown and Girard have offered incentives to V&M Star, which borders the cities, if it chooses to expand in that area.

YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s board of control will sign a contract as early as Thursday with V&M Star Steel to have the company reimburse $5 million the city is borrowing through the sale of bonds to buy land for a potential business expansion.

The board also will sign agreements with three businesses to purchase the 103 acres near V&M needed for that possible expansion, said city Finance Director David Bozanich, a board member.

That will happen now that city council authorized the board at a special meeting today to proceed with the plans. Council had postponed a vote on the two proposals at a Wednesday meeting primarily because some members wanted a few more days to look it over.

At today’s meeting, only one question was asked by a member of council.

Councilman DeMaine Kitchen, D-2nd, wanted to know if there was a discussion with V&M to give preference to qualified job applicants from Youngstown and Girard, the two cities partnering on this proposal. Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said that would be part of the development agreement between the cities and V&M.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com